Ashley Graham Apparently Removes Self-Tanner Streaks With Windex — Here's Why You Should Not Do That

"No." — Doctors

"Put some Windex on it!" is a lovable catchphrase from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and also Ashley Graham's personal beauty motto, apparently. Over the weekend, the model posted a self-tanner hack that she claims will correct a streaky, running tan. Via Instagram Stories, Graham's fans followed as she attempted to fix her zebra-striped faux tan by spraying Windex on to a paper towel and scrubbing her legs the same way you would a dirty windshield. The streaks do disappear, but experts would be quick to remind you that your skin is not a window and should not be treated as such.

"While I have heard that some people do use Windex to fix spray-tanning mistakes, it is not necessarily the best thing to put on your skin," says Fabiola Trujillo, tanning expert behind Miami's Anatomy Sobe Tan by Fabiola. "Windex actually strips the outer layer of the skin, removing a portion of the spray tan (and the skin)." Among the ingredients in a bottle of Windex are solvents not intended for use on skin, fragrance, and blue dye, all of which can cause irritation when applied directly to the skin. Dermatologist Deanne Robinson echoes Trujillo's warning and gets straight to the point: "No Windex on the skin!"

Now that we've all agreed not to wash our legs like a window, let's look at expert-approved ways to fix the dreaded self-tanner streaks. According to Trujillo, start by softening the outer layer of the skin by soaking or exfoliating the streaky area in question. "A hot bath (about 15 minutes should do the trick) followed by washcloth exfoliation in the tub will help with streaks. For areas like the bottom of hands or feet, nothing is better than a nail buffer — they work like magic." Need a little extra help? There's also a new self-tanner remover, Tan-Luxe Glyco Water, which relies on glycolic acid to safely exfoliate away unwanted color, on shelves now. We suggest starting there.


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